Liquid crystal displays having multi-domains and a manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A black matrix and a color filter are formed on a substrate, a indium-tin-oxide (ITO) common electrode are deposited thereon and then protrusion pattern made of sensitive material such as photoresist are formed on the common electrode with 3 to 20 micron width. A vertical alignment layer is coated thereon to complete a color filter substrate. After a thin film transistor (TFT) and a passivation film are formed on the other substrate, ITO is deposited on the passivation film and patterned to form a pixel electrode which contains open areas with 3 to 20 micron width. Then, a vertical alignment layer is coated to complete a TFT substrate. Two substrates are assembled in the manner that the apertures and the protrusion patterns are arranged on shifts and liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy is injected between the substrates. Each Polarizer is attached at the outer surfaces of the LCD substrates. Compensation films may be attached between the polarizer and the substrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and amanufacturing method thereof, in particular, to vertically-alignedliquid crystal displays (VA LCDs) having multi-domains in a pixel regionand a manufacturing method thereof.

(b) Description of the Related Art

A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes two substrates and a liquidcrystal layer interposed therebetween. The transmittance of the incidentlight is controlled by the strength of the electric field applied to theliquid crystal layer.

A vertically aligned twisted nematic (VATN) liquid crystal display has acouple of transparent substrates which have transparent electrodesrespectively on their inner surfaces, a chiral nematic liquid crystallayer having negative anisotropy between the substrates and a couple ofpolarizers which are respectively attached to the outer surfaces of thesubstrates In the off state of the LCD, i.e., in the state that theelectric field is not applied to the liquid crystal layer, the molecularaxes or the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are perpendicularto the substrates. On the other hand, in the on state of the LCD, i.e.,in the state that the sufficient electric field caused by the voltagedifferent between the electrodes is applied to the liquid crystal layer,the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are parallel to thesubstrates by the negative anisotropy and twisted spirally by thechirality with a pitch from the inner surface of one substrate to thatof the other substrate. Accordingly, the orientation of the long axes ofthe liquid crystal molecules vary continuously.

A VATN LCD in normally black mode may have an off state which issufficiently dark because the molecular axes of the liquid crystalmolecules are uniformly aligned perpendicular to the substrates in theoff state. Therefore, the contrast ratio is relatively high comparedwith a conventional TN LCD. In addition, the viewing angle may bestrongly dependent on the viewing directions. Therefore, it is suggestedto form multi-domains in a pixel by providing apertures in the electrodeby Clere in U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,407 and by Hirose in U.S. Pat. No.5,229,873, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to form patterns formulti-domains to enlarge the range of viewing angle.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the steps offorming patterns for multi-domains.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce light leakage nearthe boundary of multi-domains to improve the contrast ratio.

To achieve these objects of the present invention, aperture pattern isformed in pixel electrodes on a TFT substrate and protrusion pattern isformed on a color filter substrate to form multi-domain alignment ofliquid crystal.

A liquid crystal layer having negative dielectric anisotropy may beinterposed between the substrates, and alignment layers may be formed oninner surfaces of the substrates respectively.

A pair of polarizers of which the polarizing directions are preferablyperpendicular to each other may be attached to outer surfaces of thesubstrates.

Compensation films may be attached between one of the substrates and oneof the polarizers attached thereto, and a biaxial or a combination of ana-plate and a c-plate compensation films may be used. The slow axis ofthe biaxial or the a-plate compensation film is preferably parallel orperpendicular to the polarizing directions of the polarizers.

The aperture pattern and the protrusion pattern may be formed as a shapeof a wedge at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the polarizing axisof the polarizers.

The aperture pattern may be cross-shaped or X-shaped perpendicular tothe polarizing axis of the polarizer and the protrusion pattern may betetragon shape surrounding the aperture pattern. The width of thecross-shaped pattern decreases as goes from a center to the edge of thepattern.

The width of the aperture pattern, the width of the protrusion patternand the height of the protrusion pattern are 3 to 20 microns, 3 to 20microns and 0.3 to 3 microns respectively.

Black matrix overlapping the protrusion pattern may be formed on theupper substrate and a wire overlapping the aperture pattern may beformed on the lower substrate.

To achieve the objects of the present invention, a pixel electrodehaving wedge-shaped aperture pattern is formed on the lower substrateand protrusion pattern arranged to the aperture pattern alternately andin parallel are formed on the upper substrate.

In the upper substrate, a black matrix overlapping the aperture patternmay be formed.

The black matrix may include the first portion overlapping theprotrusion pattern, the second portion put across the bent points of thewedge-shaped aperture pattern and the protrusion pattern and the thirdportion covering a portion that the aperture pattern and the protrusionpattern meet a boundary of the pixel electrode.

The third portion of the black matrix may be formed as a triangularshape.

The black matrix may include the fourth portion overlapping the aperturepattern.

The edge of the pixel electrode between the aperture pattern and theprotrusion pattern may be perpendicular to the aperture pattern.

In a manufacturing method of the present invention, aperture patterns ofthe TFT substrate are simultaneously formed at the step of forming thepixel electrode. Then protrusion pattern is formed on the color filtersubstrate in a manner to arrange to the aperture patterns alternatelyand in parallel.

The protrusion pattern may be formed by coating a photo-sensitive film,exposing, developing and baking the film.

As described, the aperture pattern is formed at the step of patterningthe ITO pixel electrode and a passivation film may not be coated oncolor filters. As a result, the number of the manufacturing stepsdecrease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams of a VATN LCD respectively inblack state and white state according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a layout view of the pattern for forming multi-domainsaccording to the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic sectional views of VATN LCDs according tothe present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic sectional views of VATN LCDs according tothe first and the second embodiments of the present invention,respectively.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a VATN LCD according to thethird to the tenth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a layout views of a pixel in a VATN LCD having patterns forforming multi-domains according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion (a) in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are layout views of pixels in a VATN LCD having patternsfor forming multi-domains according to the fourth embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion (b) in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 10 is a layout view of a pixel region in a TFT substrate having amodified gate line according to the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a layout view of a pixel region in a color filter substratehaving a black matrix and a protrusion pattern according to the fifthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a layout view of a pixel in an LCD having the TFT substrateand the color filter substrate shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the LCD shown in FIG. 12 taken along theline XIV-XIV′.

FIG. 14 is a layout view of a pixel region in a color filter substratehaving a black matrix according to the sixth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 15 is a layout view of a pixel in an LCD having a modified pixelelectrode according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a layout view of a pixel in an LCD having patterns forforming multi-domains according to the eighth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are layout views of pixels in a LCD having patterns forforming multi-domains according to the ninth and the tenth embodimentsof the present invention, respectively.

FIG. 19A to FIG. 19E are cross sectional views of the intermediatestructures of a color filter substrate when manufactured according tothe embodiments shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 20A to FIG. 20D are cross sectional views of the intermediatestructures of a TFT substrate when manufactured according to theembodiments shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodimentsof the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be constructed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these inventions are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In thedrawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated forclarity. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. It will beunderstood that when an element such as a layer, region or substrate isreferred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on theother element or intervening elements may also be present.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing the alignment of theliquid crystal molecules of a VATN LCD respectively in black state andwhite state, according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGs. 1A and 1B, two glass or quartz substrates 1 and 2 arespaced apart from each other. On the inner surfaces of the substrates 1and 2, transparent electrodes 12 and 22 made of a transparent conductivematerial such as ITO (indium tin oxide) or the like are formedrespectively, and homeotropic or vertical alignment layers 14 and 24 areformed thereon respectively. Between the substrates 1 and 2, a liquidcrystal layer 100 including a chiral nematic liquid crystal materialhaving negative dielectric anisotropy is disposed. Instead of the chiralnematic liquid crystal, a nematic liquid crystal mixed with chiraldopants may be used. On the outer surfaces of the substrates 1 and 2,polarizers 13 and 23 are attached. The polarizers 13 and 23 polarize therays incident on the liquid crystal layer 100 and the rays out of theliquid crystal layer 100 respectively. The polarizing directions of thepolarizers 13 and 23, represented as arrows in FIGS. 1A and 1B, areperpendicular to each other. The alignment layers 14 and 24 may berubbed or not.

FIG. 1A shows the off state that the electric field is not applied. Thelong axes or the molecular axes of the liquid crystal molecules 3 in theliquid crystal layer 100 are aligned perpendicular to the surface of thesubstrates 1 and 2 by the aligning force of the alignment layers 14 and24.

The polarized light by the polarizer 13 attached to the lower substrate1 passes through the liquid crystal layer 100 without changing itspolarization. Then, the light is blocked by the analyzer 23 attached tothe upper substrate 2 to make a black state.

FIG. 1B shows the on state that the sufficient electric field is appliedto the liquid crystal layer 100. The liquid crystal molecules 3 in theliquid crystal layer 100 are twisted spirally by 90° from the lowersubstrate 1 to the upper substrate 2, and the director of the liquidcrystal layer 100 varies continuously. However, near the inner surfacesof two substrates 1 and 2, since the aligning force of the alignmentlayers 14 and 24 is larger than the force due to the applied electricfield, the liquid crystal molecules stay vertically aligned.

The polarized light by the polarizer 13 passes through the liquidcrystal layer 100, and its polarization is rotated by 90° according tothe variation of the director of the liquid crystal layer 100.Therefore, the light passes through the analyzer 23 to make a whitestate.

The LCD shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a basic structure of the followingembodiments of the present invention.

The basic structures and the principles for compensating the viewingangle according to the embodiments of the present invention aredescribed with reference to FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B. Here, the liquid crystallayer is assumed to be chiral nematic or nematic mixed with chiraldopants, and to have negative anisotropy.

FIG. 2 is a layout view of a VATN LCD having an aperture for formingmulti-domains, and FIG. 3A is a sectional view of a VATN LCD showing thestructure of the electrodes and the alignment of the liquid crystalmolecules according to the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3A show only afew elecments for simplicity and, therefore, the elements such aspolarizers, etc., are eliminated.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A, an ITO electrode 15 formed on a lowersubstrate 1 has a linear aperture 4 extending in a horizontal direction.Although the aperture 4 has a linear shape, it actually has the width.The lower substrate 1 is opposite an upper substrate 2 having atransparent common electrode 25 thereon. A liquid crystal layer composedof liquid crystal molecules 3 is interposed between two substrates 1 and2.

In absence of electric field, the liquid crystal molecules 3 arevertically aligned to show the black state under crossed-polarizers (notshown). When voltages are applied to the electrode 15 and 25, anelectric field is generated in the liquid crystal layer due to thevoltage difference between the electrodes 15 and 25. The field directionin most regions between the electrodes 15 and 25 is perpendicular to thesubstrates 1 and 2. However, near the aperture 4 of the ITO electrode15, the electric field is curved and not completely perpendicular to thesubstrates 1 and 2. The electric field near the aperture 4 is called thefringe field, and the fringe field is symmetrical with respect to theaperture 4.

Since the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules 3 tend to beperpendicular to the field direction, the long axes of the liquidcrystal molecules 3 near the aperture 4 are tilted symmetrically inopposite directions with respect to the aperture 4. In addition, themolecular axes tend to twisted on going from the upper substrate 2 tothe lower substrate 1. As a result, two domains having opposite tiltdirections of the liquid crystal molecules 3 are formed at both sides ofthe aperture 4, and may compensate the viewing angle.

The substitution of the aperture 4 with a protrusion having asymmetrical cross section may give a similar effect, which will bedescribed next.

FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a VATN LCD having a protrusion accordingto the present invention. The layout view of the LCD is similar to FIG.2 except the numeral 4, which may be assumed to be a protrusion.

As shown in FIG. 3B, a linear protrusion 5 having a wedge-shaped crosssection is formed on a lower substrate 1 and extends in a horizontaldirection. Although the protrusion 5 has a linear shape, it actually hasthe width. A vertical alignment layer 14 is formed thereon. A lowersubstrate 1 is opposite an upper substrate 2, and a liquid crystal layerincluding liquid crystal molecules 3 is interposed between thesubstrates 1 and 2.

In the absence of an electric field, the liquid crystal molecules 3 nearthe protrusion 5 are perpendicular to the surface of the protrusion 5since the liquid crystal molecules 3 tend to erect perpendicularly tothe surface of the alignment layer 14 by the aligning force of thealignment layer 14. Since the cross section of the protrusion 5 issymmetrical, the molecules 3 are symmetrically arranged with respect tothe protrusion 5. Therefore, two domains having opposite tilt directionswith respect to the protrusion 5 are generated at the both sides of theprotrusion 5 even in the off state.

When an electric field is applied between the substrates 1 and 2, theliquid crystal molecules 3 in the two domains are tilted in oppositedirections and tend to be horizontally arranged to the substrates 1 and2.

However, the molecules 3 near the surface of the upper substrate 2 wherethe apertures or protrusions do not exist and near the center of aregion between the apertures 4 or the protrusions 5, which are far fromthe apertures 4 or the protrusions 5, may not be affected by theelectric field near the apertures 4 or the protrusions 5. Thearrangement of the molecules 3 in the region may not be so uniform andthe response time may not be so short. Therefore, it will be describedthat the patterns such as apertures or protrusions are provided in bothsubstrates 1 and 2.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross sectional views of LCDs according to the firstand the second embodiments of the present invention, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4A, an ITO electrode 15 formed on a lower substrate 1has a linear aperture 4 and a common electrode 25 formed on a uppersubstrate 2 opposite the lower substrate 1 also has a linear aperture44. A liquid crystal layer composed of liquid crystal molecules 3 areinterposed between the substrates 1 and 2. The aperture 44 is parallelto and spaced apart from the aperture 4 when viewed from the top.

The fringe fields due to both the apertures 4 and 44 make the moleculesin a region between adjacent apertures 4 and 44 to incline in the samedirection. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules 3 in the regionbetween the aperture 4 and the aperture 44 are aligned more uniformlyand the response time becomes reduced.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, a linear protrusion 5 having a wedge-shapedcross section is formed on a lower substrate 1 and a vertical alignmentlayer 14 is formed thereon. A linear protrusion 55 having a wedge-shapedcross section is formed on an upper substrate 2 opposite the lowersubstrate 1, and a vertical alignment layer 24 is formed thereon. Theprotrusions 5 and 55 are parallel to and spaced apart from each otherwhen viewed from the top. A liquid crystal layer including liquidcrystal molecules 3 is interposed between the substrates 1 and 2 and theliquid crystal molecules 3 are perpendicular to the surfaces of thealignment layers 14 and 24 by the aligning force of the alignment layers14 and 24.

As similar to the first embodiment, the molecules in a region betweenadjacent protrusions 5 and 55 are inclined in the same direction by theprotrusions 5 and 55. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules 3 in theregion between the protrusions 5 and 55 are aligned more uniformly andthe response time becomes reduced.

However, the LCDs of the first and the second embodiments may have someproblems.

The number of the manufacturing steps of the LCD shown in FIG. 4A andFIG. 4B increases, as described below.

First, if the upper substrate 2 shown in FIG. 4A has color filters underthe common electrode 25, while wet etch of the common electrode 25 areperformed by using ITO etchant to form the apertures 4 and 44, theetchant may attack or contaminate the color filter. Therefore, apassivation film made of organic or inorganic material should beinterposed between the color filter and the ITO electrode. Therefore,the step of forming the passivation film may be added.

Second, of the LCD shown in FIG. 4B, the step of forming the protrusions5 and 55 may be added.

In addition, the light leakage may be yielded near the protrusions 5 and55, since the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules 3 near theprotrusions 5 and 55 are not perpendicular to the substrates 1 and 2 inthe off state. Accordingly, brightness in dark state increases and thecontrast ratio decreases.

Now, in order to solve these problems, LCDs according to the third tothe tenth embodiments are described.

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of a vertically aligned liquidcrystal display having multi-domains according to the fifth to thetwelfth embodiments of the present invention. The liquid crystal layersin the embodiments are interposed between a upper substrate and a lowersubstrate and are composed of liquid crystal material having negativeanisotropy and chirality.

As shown in FIG. 5, a linear aperture 270 is formed in an ITO pixelelectrode 200 on the inner surface of a lower insulating substrate 10,and a vertical alignment film 240 is coated thereon. A black matrix 110and a color filter 120 formed between the black matrix is formed on theinner surface of an upper insulating substrate 20 facing the lowersubstrate 10. A plurality of linear protrusions 170 are formed on theblack matrix 110, and a vertical alignment film 140 is coated thereon.The upper and lower substrates 20 and 10 are arranged in a manner thatthe protrusions 170 and the aperture 270 are alternately arranged. Aliquid crystal layer having negative dielectric anisotropy is interposedbetween two substrates 10 and 20 and vertically aligned to the surfacesof the substrates 10 and 20 by the vertical alignment film 240 and 140.

Furthermore, polarizers 13 and 23 are attached on the outer surfaces ofthe assembled substrates 10 and 20. The polarizing axes of thepolarizers 13 and 23 are perpendicular to each other.

Compensation films 133 and 233 are interposed between polarizer 13 and23 and the substrates 20 and 200 respectively. One of the compensationfilms may be an a-plate compensation film and the other a c-platecompensation film. Otherwise, both the compensation films may be c-platecompensation films. A biaxial compensation film may be used instead ofthe uniaxial compensation film, and, in this case, the biaxialcompensation film may be attached to only one substrate. The slow axis,which is the direction having a largest refractive index, of the a-plateor the biaxial compensation film may be parallel or perpendicular to thepolarizing directions of the polarizers 13 and 23.

Here, since the protrusions 170 are formed only one substrate 20, thelight leakage near the protrusions 170 decreases compared with thesecond embodiment.

Furthermore, since the protrusions 170 are formed on the color filter120 and it is not necessary to etch the common electrode (not shown),the manufacturing process of the color filter substrate is simplecompared with the first embodiment. In addition, since the lowersubstrate does not have protrusions, the manufacturing process of thelower substrate is simple compare with the second embodiment.

The manufacturing method of the LCD will be described in detail later.

The LCD shown in FIG. 5 may have various layouts, which will bedescribed in third to the tenth embodiments.

The third to the tenth embodiments of the present invention are relatedto liquid crystal displays (LCDS) having patterns for forming fourdomains in a pixel region.

Now, the third embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIG. 6 showing a pixel having patterns for fourdomains.

A protrusion pattern including a plurality of linear protrusions 170formed on a color filter substrate and an aperture pattern including aplurality of linear apertures 270 formed in a pixel electrode 200 on aTFT substrate 10 have substantially wedge shapes having bent portionsplaced on the transverse center line passing through the center of apixel. The protrusions 170 and the apertures 270 are arrangedalternately, and are parallel to each other in respective half portionslocated at upper and lower sides of the transverse center line.

The liquid crystal molecules in adjacent two regions divided by theaperture 270 or the protrusion 170 either in the upper half portion orin the lower half portion have opposite tilt directions. Therefore, twodomains are obtained in each half portion.

Furthermore, the liquid crystal molecules in the upper half portion andin the lower half portion have different tilt directions. Therefore,four domains having different tilt directions are obtained in a singlepixel to enlarge the viewing angle more than the first and the secondembodiments.

The apertures 270 and the protrusions 170 are formed at an angle of 45degrees with respect to the polarizing axis 111, and the long axes ofthe liquid crystal molecules are perpendicular to the protrusions 170and the apertures 270. Therefore, the long axes of the liquid crystalmolecules make 45 (or 135) angular degrees with the polarizingdirections of the polarizing axes 111 and 222. As described above, sincefour domains having different tilt directions, viewing angle isenlarged.

In this embodiment, however, the arrangement of liquid crystal moleculesfalls into disorder near the bent portions of the patterns 170 and 270,and disclination is generated near the position where the apertures 270meet the boundary of the pixel electrode 200 because the angletherebetween is acute, as shown in FIG. 7 which is an enlarged layoutview of portion (a) of FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows that the arrangement of theliquid crystal molecules falls into disorder in the region A, whichcauses the decrease of the luminance. Moreover, the disorder of thearrangement may cause the afterimage because the disordered region maymove whenever different pixel voltages are applied.

According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B, the disclination generated in the third embodiment maybe removed.

The shapes of the patterns are substantially similar to the patterns ofththe fifth embodiment. That is, a protrusion pattern 170 formed on acolor filter substrate and an aperture pattern 270 formed on a TFTsubstrate have wedge shapes, and the protrusions 170 and the apertures270 are arranged alternately. The bent portions of the wedge-shapedpatterns are placed on the transverse center line passing through thecenter of a pixel, and have a convex point and a concave point.

A first branch protrusion 172 extend from the convex point of theprotrusion 170 toward the concave point of the aperture 270, and abranch aperture 272 extend from the convex point of the aperture 270toward the concave point of the protrusion 170 along the transversecenter line.

Second branch protrusions 171 of the protrusion pattern 170 extend fromthe points where the protrusions 170 meet the edges of the pixelelectrode 200 toward the points where the edges of the pixel electrode200 and the wedge-shaped aperture pattern 270 substantially make anacute angle. Therefore, the ends of the patterns 270 and 170 formed onthe two substrates are close to each other, and the patterns 270 and 170have only obtuse angles to remove the disclination.

That is, the liquid crystal molecules are arranged relatively in orderby the branch protrusion 171 as shown in FIG. 9 which is an enlargedlayout view of portion (b) of FIG. 8A.

The width of the first and the second branch protrusions 171 and 172 andthe branch aperture 272 may gradually decrease from the point connectedto the patterns 170 and 270 to the end of the branches 171, 172 and 272.The widths of the linear protrusions 170 and the linear apertures 270are preferably in the range of 3 to 20 microns, and the distancetherebetween are in the range of 5 to 20 microns.

In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, disclination may beprevented by a black matrix or a wire instead of forming branchpatterns.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are layout views of a TFT substrate and a color filtersubstrate according to the fifth embodiment respectively.

As shown in FIG. 10, a portion 211 of a gate line 210 which transmits ascanning signal is formed to have substantially the same shape as one ofthe apertures 270 which has the same shapes as those in FIGS. 8A and 8B.That is, the portion 211 has a trapezoid shape without the lower side.Then, the portion 211 made of opaque metal blocks the light from thebacklight, and, therefore the light leakage or the decrease of luminancedue to the aperture 270 may be removed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, a black matrix 110 is formed on the colorfilter substrate to cover the regions where disclination is generatedand the protrusions 170, 171 and 172 on the color filter substrate. Thedisclination regions are, as described above, the regions where theapertures 270 on the TFT substrate meet the edges of the pixel electrode200 and the region where the wedge-shaped patterns 170 and 270 are bent.

The black matrix pattern which covers the disclination includes, asshown in FIG. 11, an edge portion surrounding and defining a pixelregion, a wedge-shaped portion to cover the pattern 170, a triangularportion to cover the disclination between wedge-shaped protrusions 170and apertures 270 and a central portion put across the pixel region tocover the disclination generated in the bent portion of the patterns 170and 270.

Then, the light leakage generated by the disclination or the patterns170 and 270 is prevented by the black matrix 110. Moreover, additionaldecrease of the aperture ratio does not occur though the black matrix110 is formed to have relatively large area because the region where theblack matrix covers may not be used for display.

FIG. 12 is a layout view of a pixel in an LCD having the TFT substrateand the color filter substrate shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 13 is asectional view of an LCD shown in FIG. 12 taken along the lineXIII-XIII′.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a portion 211 of a gate line 210 is formedon a lower TFT substrate. The gate line 210 has a trapezoid shapewithout the lower side. An insulating layer 220 covers the gate line. Apixel electrode 200 is formed on the insulating layer 220, and portionsof the pixel electrode 200 are removed to form wedge-shaped aperturepattern 270 over the portion 211 of the gate line 210. A verticalalignment layer 240 is formed on the pixel electrode 200.

On the other hand, a black matrix 110 is formed on a upper color filtersubstrate 20 to cover the outside of the pixel electrode 200, theprotrusions 170 and the disclination regions. In the pixel region withinthe black matrix 110, a color filter 120 is formed and an ITO commonelectrode 130 is formed over the color filter substrate 20. Aprotrusions 170 made of organic or inorganic material is formed on thecommon electrode 130 over the black matrix 110. The protrusions 170formed on the upper substrate overlaps the black matrix 110 and isarranged alternately to the apertures 270 formed on the lower substrate,and the protrusions 170 and the apertures 270 are parallel to eachother.

Polarizers 13 and 23 may be attached to the outer surfaces of twosubstrates 10 and 20, and their polarizing axes are perpendicular toeach other.

Compensation films 133 and 233 may be attached between one of thesubstrates 10 and 20 and one of the polarizers 13 and 23 attachedthereto.

A liquid crystal material layer 30 with negative dielectric anisotropyis interposed between two substrate 10 and 20, and the liquid crystalmolecules are homotropically aligned to the substrates 10 and 20 by thealigning force of the alignment layers 140 and 240. Near the protrusions170, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned to be perpendicular to thesurface of the protrusions 170.

It is possible to form a gate line as in a conventional LCD, and thenthe aperture pattern formed on the lower substrate is also covered bythe black matrix, as shown in FIG. 14 which is a layout view of a pixelregion in a color filter substrate according to the sixth embodiment ofthe present invention.

A black matrix 110 is formed to define a pixel region and to cover theprotrusions 170 for forming multi-domains, the disclination betweenwedge-shaped protrusion pattern 170 and aperture pattern 270 and thedisclination generated in the bent portion of the protrusion pattern 170and the aperture pattern 270 as in the fifth embodiment. In addition,the black matrix 110 includes another portion to cover the apertures 270formed on the lower substrate.

If the black matrix covers the patterns 170 and 270 and the disclinationas in the sixth embodiment, it is not necessary to consider theinfluence due to the change of the gate line and no additional processstep is required.

Moreover, the shape of the pixel electrode may be changed instead offorming the branches in the fourth embodiment.

In the seventh embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 15, apixel electrode is changed to prevent from decrease of the luminance.

As described above, the region where the disclination is generated isthe region where the aperture pattern 270 on the TFT substrate meets theedges of the pixel electrode 200.

Therefore, in the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the edgeof the pixel electrode 200 between the apertures 70 and the protrusions170 is perpendicular to the protrusion pattern 170. The widths of theapertures 270 and the protrusions 170 are preferably 30 to 20 micronsrespectively, and the distance between the patterns 170 and 270 ispreferably in the range of 5 to 50 microns.

The eighth embodiment having patterns for four-domains is shown in FIG.16.

As shown in FIG. 16, an aperture pattern including a plurality ofapertures 280 is formed in a pixel electrode 200 on a TFT substrate 10and has a X shape having the first and the second portions crossing eachother at a right angle. A protrusion 170 is formed of one portioncorresponding to the edges of the pixel electrode 100 and the otherportion transversing the spaces between the apertures 280.

The liquid crystal layer in the single pixel have four domains havingdifferent tilt directions by the apertures 280 and the protrusion 170,and the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules in the adjacentdomains are arranged at an angle of 90 or 180 degrees.

It is suitable that the polarizers are attached to the substrate 10 and20 in a manner that polarizing directions 555 and 666 are perpendicularto each other. The polarizing directions 555 and 666 make an angle of 45degrees with the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are layout views of pixels in a LCD having patterns formulti-domains according to the ninth and the tenth embodiments of thepresent embodiment. A protrusion pattern overlaps substantially theboundary of a pixel electrode or is located substantially inside thepixel electrode in FIG. 17, while it is substantially located outsidethe pixel electrode in FIG. 18.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a substantially cross-shaped aperturepattern including a plurality of apertures 250 is formed in a pixelelectrode 200 on a TFT substrate 10, and a protrusion pattern 170surrounding the cross-shaped apertures 250 is formed on a color filtersubstrate.

The four domains are obtained by the apertures 250 and the protrusion170, and the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules interposingbetween the substrates are perpendicular to each other.

It is possible to modify the shape of the cross shapes as in FIGS. 17and 18.

The modified cross-shaped apertures 250 includes a diamond-shapedportion 251 and extended portions 252. The extended portions 252 extendoutwards from the corners of the diamond 251 and make a right angle witheach other. The width of the extended portions 252 decreases graduallyas goes from the point connected to the portion 251 to the ends of theextended portions 252. Oblique sides of the diamond portion 251 areparallel to the corresponding oblique sides of protrusion 170respectively because the protrusion pattern 170 and aperture pattern 250have substantially the same shapes each other even though the centers ofthe patterns 170 and 250 are alternately arranged.

Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules between the patterns 250 and 170are arranged relatively uniformly, and the response time is reduced.

In this case, it is suitable that polarizing directions of thepolarizers on two substrates are respectively a vertical direction 444and a horizontal direction 333 such that the long axes of the liquidcrystal molecules make an angle of 45 degrees with the polarizingdirections.

The widths of the patterns 170 and 250 are preferably in the range of 3to 20 microns respectively and the height of the protrusion pattern 170is 0.3 to 3.0 microns. If the width is too narrow, the region where theliquid crystal molecules incline by the fringe field is too small, andtherefore the effect of multi-domains is not sufficiently gained. On thecontrary, if the width is too large, the aperture ratio becomes low.

The distance between the protrusion pattern 170 and the aperture pattern250 is in the range of 10 to 50 microns. However, it depends on the sizeor the shape of the pixel.

For high-aperture ratio, the embodiment shown in FIG. 18 in which theprotrusion pattern 170 outside the edges of the pixel electrode 200 issuperior to the embodiment shown in FIG. 17 in which the protrusionpattern 170 overlaps the edges or is located inside the edges.

Next, a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display for formingmulti-domains is described.

FIG. 19A to FIG. 19E are cross sectional views of the intermediatestructures of a color filter substrate when manufactured according tothe embodiments shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, a black matrix 110 is formed on atransparent insulating substrate 20 and a color filter 120 is formedwithin the black matrix 110.

Then, as shown in FIG. 19C, an ITO layer is deposited thereon to form acommon electrode 130.

As shown in FIGS. 19D and 19E, a photo-sensitive film such asphotoresist or polyimid film is coated on the common electrode 130 withthe thickness of 3 to 20 microns, exposed, developed and baked to form aprotrusion pattern 170 with 0.3 to 3 micron width. The protrusionpattern 170 may overlap the black matrix 110. Then, a verticallyalignment layer 140 is coated thereon.

FIG. 20A to FIG. 20D are cross sectional views of the intermediatestructures of a TFT substrate when manufactured according to theembodiments in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 20A to 20D, a gate wire including gate lines 210 isformed on a transparent insulating substrate 10, and a gate insulatingfilm 220 is deposited thereon. Afterward, an active layer (not shown)and a data wire (not shown) are formed to form a TFT.

As shown in FIG. 20C, a passivation film 220 is formed, and atransparent conductive material such as ITO is deposited and patternedto form a pixel electrode 200. In this step, an aperture pattern 270with 3 to 20 micron width is formed in the pixel electrode 200.

Then, a vertical alignment layer 240 is coated thereon.

As a result, the aperture pattern may be formed in the steps of formingthe pixel electrode 200 without any additional step.

The TFT and the color filter substrate 10 and 20 formed according to themethods shown in FIG. 19A to 19E and in FIG. 20A to 20D are assembledwith each other in a manner that the protrusions 170 and the aperturepattern patterns 270 are alternately arranged with a space. After liquidcrystal having native dielectric anisotropy is injected between twosubstrates, polarizers are attached on the surfaces of the substrates ina manner that the polarizing directions have a right angle each other.

The polarizing directions are at an angle of 45 degrees or at a rightangle with respect to the protrusions 170 and apertures 270.

As described above, the apertures are formed at the step of forming theITO pixel electrode and a passivation film may not be coated on colorfilters before forming step of the protrusions so that additional stepsto realize VA-LCD having four-domains may not be performed.

Therefore, wide-viewing angle is obtained.

Furthermore, the black matrix or the gate line corresponds to theportions where the protrusions and the apertures are formed or thestructure of the pixel electrode are changed so that lightness andcontrast ratio are improved.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typicalpreferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms areemployed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and notfor purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forthin the following claims.

1-51. (canceled)
 52. A liquid crystal display, comprising: a firstsubstrate; a common electrode formed on the first substrate; a pluralityof protrusions formed on the common electrode; a second substrate facingthe first substrate; and a pixel electrode having a plurality ofapertures and formed on the second substrate.
 53. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 52, further comprising a chiral nematic liquid crystallayer having negative dielectric anisotropy and interposed between thefirst and second substrates.
 54. The liquid crystal display of claim 53,further comprising two vertical alignment layers formed on innersurfaces of the first and second substrates, respectively, and aligningmolecular axes of liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layerin a direction perpendicular to the substrates.
 55. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 52, further comprising first and second polarizersattached to outer surfaces of the first and second substrates,respectively, polarizing directions of the first and second polarizersbeing perpendicular to each other.
 56. The liquid crystal display ofclaim 55, further comprising a first compensation film attached eitherbetween the first substrate and the first polarizer or between thesecond substrate and the second polarizer.
 57. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 56, wherein the first compensation film is a biaxialcompensation film.
 58. The liquid crystal display of claim 57, wherein aslow axis of the first compensation film is parallel or perpendicular tothe polarizing directions of the first and the second polarizers. 59.The liquid crystal display of claim 56, further comprising a secondcompensation film attached either between the first substrates and thefirst polarizer or between the second substrate and the secondpolarizer.
 60. The liquid crystal display of claim 59, wherein the firstand second compensation films are a-plate and c-plate compensationfilms, respectively.
 61. The liquid crystal display of claim 60, whereina slow axis of the a-plate compensation film is parallel orperpendicular to the polarizing directions of the first and secondpolarizers.
 62. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, wherein theapertures have a shape of a wedge-shaped line having a width.
 63. Theliquid crystal display of claim 55, wherein the protrusions havesymmetrical cross sections and have a shape of a wedge-shaped linehaving a width, and the apertures and the protrusions are arrangedalternately.
 64. The liquid crystal display of claim 63, wherein thepolarizing directions of the first and second polarizers make an angleof 45° with the aperture and the protrusion.
 65. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 63, wherein the width of the aperture is 3 to 20microns.
 66. The liquid crystal display of claim 65, wherein the widthof the protrusion is 3 to 20 microns.
 67. The liquid crystal display ofclaim 66, wherein the distance between the aperture and the protrusionis 5 to 15 microns.
 68. The liquid crystal display of claim 67, whereinthe height of the protrusion is 0.3 to 3 microns.
 69. The liquid crystaldisplay of claim 55, wherein the aperture has a shape of cross includinga first and a second portions crossing each other at a right angle. 70.The liquid crystal display of claim 69, wherein the first and the secondportions are parallel to the polarizing axes of the first and secondpolarizers respectively.
 71. The liquid crystal display of claim 55,wherein the aperture has an X shape including first and second portionscrossing each other at a right angle.
 72. The liquid crystal display ofclaim 52, wherein the protrusions are made of polyimide.
 73. The liquidcrystal display of claim 52, wherein the protrusions are made ofphotoresist.
 74. The liquid crystal display of claim 52, furthercomprising a black matrix overlapping the protrusions on the secondsubstrate.
 75. The liquid crystal display of claim 74, furthercomprising a wire overlapping the aperture patterns on the firstsubstrate.
 76. The liquid crystal display of claim 75, wherein the wireis a gate wire.
 77. A liquid crystal display comprising: a firstsubstrate including a pixel electrode having at least a wedge-shapedaperture; and a second substrate facing the first substrate andincluding a common electrode and at least a wedge-shaped protrusion onthe common electrode, the protrusion being parallel and alternate to theaperture.
 78. The liquid crystal display of claim 77, further comprisinga wire overlapping the aperture on the first substrate.
 79. The liquidcrystal display of claim 78, wherein the wire is a gate wire.
 80. Theliquid crystal display of claim 77, wherein an edge of the pixelelectrode between the aperture and the protrusion makes a right anglewith the aperture.
 81. A liquid crystal display comprising: a firstsubstrate; a common electrode formed on the first substrate; a pluralityof protrusions formed on the common electrode; a second substrate facingthe first substrate; a pixel electrode having a plurality of aperturesand formed on the second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer havingnegative dielectric anisotropy and interposed between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate, wherein the liquid crystal layer hasfour domains which have different tilt directions due to the aperturesand the protrusions, and the long axes of molecules in the liquidcrystal layer in the adjacent domains are perpendicular to each other.82. A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display, comprising thesteps of: forming a plurality of protrusions on a first substrate;forming a pixel electrode having a plurality of apertures on a secondsubstrate; and assembling the first substrate and the second substratesuch that the protrusions and the apertures are alternately arranged.83. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display of claim 82,wherein the protrusions are made of a photo-sensitive material.
 84. Themanufacturing method of the liquid crystal display of claim 83, whereinthe step of forming the protrusions comprises the steps of: coating aphoto-sensitive film; exposing the photo-sensitive film; developing thephoto-sensitive film; and baking the photo-sensitive film.
 85. Themanufacturing method of the liquid crystal display of claim 82, furthercomprising the step of forming vertical alignment layers on the firstand second substrates.